Expert: Maximum duration of a rotational shift must not exceed 43 days

Expert: Maximum duration of a rotational shift must not exceed 43 days

26.07.2018

So as not to affect the worker’s health

Maximum duration of a rotational shift must not exceed 43 days. Elena Shurayeva, psychotherapist and General Director of Alsaria LLC, told about this at the International Forum on Industrial Safety, BNA reports.

According to Ms. Shurayeva, long shifts may cause burnout and serious physical harm. Research shows that already after the third week of a rotational shift our body experiences profound changes such as reduction of the life-span of red blood cells. By the 30th day of the shift this term becomes three times shorter.

Narrow social circle, short summer and meager ration (for shifts in the north) seriously affect workers’ health. The expert urged companies using rotational shifts to invest in relaxation rooms and other means to de-stress their workers.

The main employers practicing rotational shifts in Russia are major oil and gas companies. Most vacancies are concentrated in the Far North and other hard-to-reach areas. The average salary for such jobs varies from 60 to 110 thousand rubles.

The International Forum on Industrial Safety is held in St. Petersburg every year. In 2018, it is the 16th time. This year the Forum venue is Hilton Hotel St. Petersburg Expoforum. The conference was attended by more than 170 people from different states. The organizer is GCE Group.

Forum participant’s opinion

«What I can see from the first session is that the programme is on a high level. Some of the leading enterprises and organization present and contribute to this forum. There are so many laws, regulations, paragraphs, but sometimes everything a miner needs is to use his brain and practical training he has got in company. I hope that in the future we will be able to co-organize such event as this Forum with GCE as equals.»